Advertising in America

You say you want something different. You don't. You want something different that looks like something that already worked. You want risk with a guarantee attached. You want a breakthrough idea that a focus group approves. That's not different. That's a polite version of what you've always done, wearing a new shirt. In this episode of Advertising in America , Chris, Mick, and...

Everybody and their dog is selling OTT right now. Radio stations. TV stations. Outdoor companies. Your dry cleaner probably has a deck. But here's what they're not telling you: most of what's being sold under the OTT banner is overpriced, under-measured, and bought from someone who has absolutely no idea what they're doing, and even less incentive to admit it. In this episode,...

Your brand has a story. The question is whether it's true. Most businesses think they have a culture. They have a summer picnic. They have a mission statement on the wall. They have a boss who reads leadership books and then shows up late on Mondays. That's not culture. That's a fairy tale with fluorescent lighting. In this episode, Ryan Chute and the Torbay brothers sit down with W...

Is Valpak a relic of desperate discounting… or a misunderstood tool hiding in plain sight? In this episode of Advertising in America , the team takes on one of the most polarizing marketing channels out there—the infamous envelope of coupons. Is it junk mail destined for the trash, or a strategic weapon when used correctly? Chris Torbay fires the first shot, dismantling Valpak as a brand-killing,...

You don’t have an attention problem… you have an entitlement problem. Most advertisers walk into the market like they’re the main act, expecting people to listen, care, and convert. The reality? You’re the interruption. And if you haven’t earned that attention, you’ve already lost it. In this episode, the team dismantles the illusion that good products, polished branding, or bigger budgets automat...

Everyone is looking for the "killer ad"... the single, brilliant script that will fundamentally change the course of a business. The problem? It doesn’t exist. In this episode, the team explores why ad agencies and starry-eyed clients are addicted to the "siren song" of the award-winning one-off. They compare these "Hail Mary" passes to the actual strategy that builds...

Let’s get one thing straight: Luxury isn’t about price. It’s about patience. Identity. Emotion. And telling a story so compelling that people justify the purchase to themselves . In Episode 26 of Advertising in America , Ryan Chute, Mick Torbay, Chris Torbay, and special guests Christina Gressianu and Vi Wickam unpack the real mechanics of luxury branding and why it’s nothing like the marketing mo...

Let’s be honest, ad fraud isn’t a glitch in the system. It is the system. In this episode of Advertising in America , Ryan Chute, Mick Torbay, Chris Torbay, Vi Wickam, and Christina Gressianu pull the curtain back on the dirty economics of digital advertising. From bot traffic and fake clicks to AI expansion that floods your campaigns with people who were never going to buy. They explain why Googl...

Let’s be honest, rebrands aren’t acts of courage. Most of the time, they’re acts of panic. Or worse… vanity projects dressed up as strategy. In Episode 24 of Advertising in America , Ryan Chute, Chris Torbay, and Mick Torbay take a hard look at rebranding, why it’s so often suggested, why it’s so frequently wrong, and how it quietly destroys the trust brands spend years building. They unpack the u...

Let’s be honest—marketing myths aren’t harmless little white lies. They’re stealthy budget-eaters, reputation-robbers, and strategy-warpers that make good brands do dumb things. In Episode 23 of Advertising in America , Ryan Chute, Chris Torbay, and Mick Torbay pull back the curtain on the most expensive misconceptions in marketing—from chasing perfect attribution to thinking cheap production is a...

Let’s be honest—most marketing fails aren’t spectacular explosions. They’re slow, silent assassinations carried out by lazy writing, clueless assumptions, and business owners who think “quality, service, selection” is a personality. In this episode of Advertising in America , Ryan Chute, Chris Torbay, and Mick Torbay break open the vault of tragic (and hilarious) marketing disasters—from Chevy’s “...

They said AI would change everything. It did—just not the way you think. This week on Advertising in America , Ryan Chute, Chris Torbay, and Mick Torbay dissect the hysteria around AI search, SEO panic, and why your competitors are about to burn their marketing budgets chasing algorithms that don’t care about them. Because here’s the dirty little secret: AI doesn’t make people change their minds—i...

Step into the smoke-filled boardrooms of Madison Avenue with Advertising in America . Ryan Chute, Mick Torbay, and Chris Torbay pull no punches as they debate the most expensive myth in marketing: the “perfect lead.” Episode Highlights: Why chasing the “Glengarry leads” could bankrupt your business. The dangerous illusion of digital targeting and search intent. Why brand-building beats hyper-targe...

Let’s cut the crap—“culture” isn’t a ping-pong table in the breakroom or a laminated mission statement on the wall. Culture is Jerry. And Jerry is why people quit. In this episode of Advertising in America , Ryan, Mick, and Chris throw elbows at the myth that culture is fluff. They unpack how toxic bosses, hollow perks, and lip-service values quietly bleed companies dry—and why the few brands that...

What happens when you think your TV commercial says “premium brand,” but everyone watching hears “discount furniture warehouse”? In this no-BS episode, Ryan Chute teams up with Ad Wizards Mick Torbay and Chris Torbay to tackle one of advertising’s most expensive delusions: believing you can look like Budweiser on a budget better suited for Honest Al’s Used Cars. From Apple’s minimalist “I’m a Mac”...

What happens when you think you’re selling diamonds, but your customers are actually buying a moment? In this tell-it-like-it-is episode, Ryan Chute sits down with Ad Wizards Mick Torbay and Chris Torbay to dismantle one of the most common—and costly—mistakes in business: confusing what you do with what you really sell . From jewellers obsessed with gemology to plumbers keeping “No Poop on the Flo...

What happens when you pit human copywriters against AI? In this no-holds-barred episode, Ryan Chute referees as ad Wizards Mick Torbay and Chris Torbay duke it out over whether AI is the future of advertising—or just another way to make mediocre ads faster. From Budweiser frogs to Old Spice horses, they reveal why AI can only remix old ideas while humans invent the unforgettable. But they also adm...

Let’s be honest—most recruitment ads couldn’t convince a starving man to eat a sandwich. And it’s no surprise: they’re loaded with buzzwords, clichés, and desperate “competitive salary” nonsense. In this episode of Advertising in America , Mick, Chris, and Ryan tear into the sad state of hiring ads and explain why the real problem isn’t the job market—it’s your messaging. Episode Highlights: Why n...

Let’s get something straight, kid—there’s no such thing as a perfect media channel. If someone tells you otherwise, they’re either trying to sell you ad space or snake oil. In this episode of Advertising in America , Mick, Chris, and Ryan fire up the mics to answer the golden question: “Where should I spend my ad budget?” The answer? Not where you think. We slice through the fog of fear-based medi...

What's in a Name? More Than You Think, Kid. Sure, you can succeed with a mediocre name. Orville Redenbacher did. But why fight uphill when a great name can grease the tracks? In this episode of Advertising in America , your favourite trio of sharp-tongued strategists—Ryan, Mick, and Chris—take a no-holds-barred stroll through the world of business naming. We’re talking real names, fake names,...

Step aside, Professor— your marketing plan isn’t a TED Talk. In this episode of Advertising in America , we put the kibosh on one of the most persistent myths in business: that your ad should "educate the consumer."  Spoiler alert: If your audience walks away from your ad knowing more about your product but still doesn’t want it , you’ve failed, sweetheart. Ryan, Mick, and Chris roll up...

Let’s cut the malarkey—everyone says they want to build a brand, but the minute someone asks, “Can we measure that?” they reach for the nearest spreadsheet like it’s a life preserver.  In this episode of Advertising in America , the fellas crack open the great marketing mystery: Do brand ads actually work, or are they just smoke, mirrors, and Madison Avenue charm? Ryan, Mick, and Chris wade chin-d...

Let’s be honest—everybody loves to gripe about how expensive radio is… until they see what not advertising costs them. In this episode of Advertising in America , we’re throwing shade at sticker shock and calling out the tired trope that “radio is too expensive.” We break down the real question: expensive compared to what? Compared to TV? Radio’s a steal. Compared to billboards? Maybe. Compared to...

Let’s be honest—if bold ideas were born in boardrooms, every brand would be unforgettable. But they’re not. Because most great ideas get murdered by a well-meaning committee before they ever see daylight. We’re throwing elbows at the myth that focus groups, panels, and office Keurig clubs make marketing better. Mick, Chris, and Ryan rip into the comfort-zone thinking that turns sharp ideas into so...

Let me tell you what really grinds my gears: businesses still asking, “How did you hear about us?” At first, it seems smart—track the ROI, and see what’s working.  But let us be crystal clear: it’s not smart. It’s lazy, amateurish, and borderline rude. Episode Highlights:  Big brands don’t ask—they already know what’s working. Customers give inaccurate answers that lead to bad data. It’s rude to s...